User:Werickson.31/Mahamat Déby

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President of the Transitional Military Council[edit]

Mahamat Déby meeting David Gilmour in 2021 to discuss U.S. support for a transition of power to a democratically elected government

After Mahamat's father, Idriss Déby, died at the hands of FACT on 20 April 2021, the military announced that the elected government and National Assembly have been dissolved and that a Transitional Military Council led by Mahamat will lead the nation for 18 months.[1] A new charter replaced the Constitution of Chad, making Mahamat the interim President and head of the armed forces.[2]

Some political actors within Chad have labeled the installing of the transitional military government a "coup", as the constitutional provisions regarding the filling of a presidential vacancy were not followed.[3] Namely, according to the constitution, the President of the National Assembly, Haroun Kabadi, should have been named Acting President after president Idriss Déby's death, and an early election called within a period of no less than 45 and no more than 90 days from the time of the vacancy.[4] However, one of Chad's main foreign policy allies, France, has defended the development as necessary, citing the "exceptional circumstances" caused by the rebellion.[5] The broader international community has also supported Déby, seeing him as a stable foothold in the Sahel.[6] Déby was even welcomed to Washington, D.C. as a part of a summit for African leaders.[7] Despite this recognition, FACT rebels have issued an open threat to the new government, stating that "Chad is not a monarchy" and vowing to continue fighting until they reach N'Djamena and depose Mahamat Déby from power.[8]

National Dialogue[edit]

After initially refusing to negotiate with insurgent groups, Déby softened his stance in August 2021, proposing a national dialogue. After his proposal was met with approval by rebel groups,[9] peace talks between government and rebel representatives started two months later. These peace talks culminated in the August 8th, 2022 peace agreement, signed in Doha, which established a national dialogue between Déby's government and the opposition,[10] intended to prepare the country for elections scheduled for the second half of 2022.[11] The peace agreement, though, was rejected by FACT and other opposition groups, as well as by civil society groups, who cited the absence of a guaranteed return to civilian rule.[12] This lack of support for the peace agreement led to limited participation in the national dialogue.[13] Without major opposition and civilian participation in the national dialogue, it concluded to extend the transition and postpone elections until at least October 2024.[13] [14] In March 2023, Déby pardoned 380 jailed FACT members, many of whom were among the 400+ sentenced to life in prison for the death of his father[15], in an attempt to have the group join peace talks, following their non-participation in the national dialogue.[16]

October 2022 Protests[edit]

The Transitional Military Council's October 3rd postponing of elections was met with significant pro-democracy demonstrations on Oct. 20th, the initial date of elections. These demonstrations primarily took place in the cities of N'Djamena and Moundou, and were primarily orchestrated by the opposition group Wakit Tamma and Succès Masra, leader of the Les Transformateurs party.[17] In response to the demonstrations, government security forces violently cracked down on protesters and the government orchestrated a days long internet blackout.[13] The violence ended in the deaths of between 50 and 200, including journalist Orédjé Narcisse, and the arrests of at least 600.[13] [18] Of those 600+, 342 ended up sentenced to between 1 and 3 years in prison for charges related to the protests. The day was later deemed "Black Thursday" for the violence.[18] Following the demonstrations, Déby blamed protesters and organizers for the violence, and justified the government response by the claiming the protests were an organized insurrection.[19] Following the protests, various opposition political parties were suspended, among them Les Transformateurs and the Chadian Socialist Party. [20]

French Support for Presidency[edit]

Despite the undemocratic nature of Déby's rule, he has received significant support in the West, most notably from France, a former colonizer of Chad following a prolonged military conquest.[21] Emmanuel Macron attended the funeral of Idriss Déby, where he pledged his support for the junior Déby's government and for the stability of Chad, stability which France further supported through Operation Barkhane, which positioned a 5,000+ French force in the Sahel, with their headquarters in Chad.[22] Déby also visited Macron at the Élysée Palace in June 2021, where the two discussed the political transition in Chad.[23] Despite the 2021 termination of Operation Barkhane, France has not demonstrated any wavering in their support of Déby and continues to position troops in the region, [24] [25] despite having moved the remaining core of their Sahel forces to Niger. [26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chad's President Idriss Déby dies 'in clashes with rebels'". BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  2. ^ Ramadane, Madjiasra Nako, Mahamat (April 21, 2021). "Chad in turmoil after Deby death as rebels, opposition challenge military". Reuters. Retrieved April 21, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Chad president's death: Rivals condemn 'dynastic coup'". BBC News. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Chad's Constitution of 2018" (PDF). constituteproject.org. Constitute Project. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 April 2021.
  5. ^ Irish, John; Salaün, Tangi (April 22, 2021). "With eye on Islamist fight, France backs Chad military takeover". Reuters. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Gerald, Krieger (2022). "Challenges in Mali, the Importance of Legitimate Governance in Combatting Terrorism and Violent Extremism" (PDF). Journal of Strategic Security. 15 (3): 22-38. doi:https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.15.3.2009. Retrieved 4 May 2023. {{cite journal}}: Check |doi= value (help); External link in |doi= (help)
  7. ^ Tahingam, Pierre. "Sommet USA-Afrique : Mahamat Idriss Deby prend part aux travaux". Journal du Tchad. Journal du Tchad. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Who are Chad's FACT rebels and what are their goals?". Al Jazeera. April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "Chad Rebel Group FACT Says It's Willing to Join National Dialogue". VOA. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  10. ^ Andrew, Mills. "Chad signs peace pact with rebels, but main insurgents stay out". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  11. ^ Kum, Peter; Chahed, Nadia (29 October 2021). "Tchad: la junte engage des discussions avec les groupes rebelles et les partis de l'opposition". AA (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2023". International Crisis Group. International Crisis Group. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d "Chad's Transition: Easing Tensions Online". International Crisis Group. International Crisis Group. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  14. ^ Ramadane, Mahamat (3 October 2022). "Junta set to stay in power after Chad delays elections by two years". Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022.
  15. ^ Tahingam, Pierre. "Tchad : au moins 400 rebelles impliqués dans la mort d'Idriss Deby condamnés à vie". Journal du Tchad. Journal du Tchad. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  16. ^ Prentice, Alessandra. "Chad pardons 380 rebels in apparent peace gesture". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  17. ^ AFP. "Tchad: violentes manifestations, une cinquantaine de morts". Le Point. Le Point. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  18. ^ a b Nodjimbadem, Katie. "Chad's Coup Leader Stops Democracy in Its Tracks". Foreign Policy. Foreign Policy. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  19. ^ Takadji, Edouard. "Chad leader blames protest organizers for civilian deaths". AP. AP. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  20. ^ Hold Your Fire! Podcast. "After the Crackdowns, is Chad's Transition Unravelling?". International Crisis Group. International Crisis Group. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  21. ^ Marielle, Debos. "COLONIAL VIOLENCE AND RESISTANCE IN CHAD (1900-1960)". SciencesPo Mass Violence and Resistance- Research Network. Sciences Po. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  22. ^ Pelz, Daniel. "Why France is backing Chad's new leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby". DW. DW. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Mahamat Déby's first foreign trip to Paris". Diplomat Magazine. Diplomat Magazine. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Macron announces the end of France's anti-Islamist Operation Barkhane in the Sahel". France 24. France 24. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  25. ^ Schofield, Hugh. "France calls time on anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane in Sahe". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  26. ^ Doukhan, Dr. David. "The end of operation Barkhane". International Institute for Counterterrorism. International Institute for Counterterrorism. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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